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Commentary and Discussion From the Retail Community
Contrarian Picks Fleming
The wholesaler has been taking its hits recently on the business pages and in its share price, but James Fraser, editor of the Ruminations of The Contrary Investor newsletter…
The Spiritual Component of Leadership
Vollie Melson, Director, Leadership Initiatives, NACS, writes in a column titled, The Leadership-Spirituality Connection, that there is a definitive link between leadership and spirituality. Do you agree?
Consumers Go Online for Health Information
A new survey has found that 44 percent of women and 32 percent of men in the USA and Europe go online to search the Internet for health information. How…
A Case of Deja Blue in Water Category
Dr. Pepper/Seven Up (DPSU) bottlers has reportedly made breaking into the water category a “very big priority,” with plans to roll out its Deja Blue water brand nationally from its…
Zero Financing Masks Retail Sales Problems
Zero percent finance offers on cars is one thing, but quite another on $149 vacuum cleaners, according to Todd Kuhrt, an analyst with Midwest Research of Cleveland, Ohio. Will special…
Kmart COO: We’ve Got Product In Stock
Kmart’s sales have been hurt more by the consumer perception of out-of-stocks than actual product being absent from the shelf, according to the company’s chief operating officer. What can…
Designer Logos are Hot – Not!
Designer logos are no longer hip, says a New York Times article. Once a symbol of prestige, designer logos are becoming increasingly hard to find on apparel and other accessories…
Kroger’s Food 4 Less Gets More Stores in Vegas
Kroger has announced an agreement to purchase 18 Raley’s in Las Vegas. The deal is expected to be finalized within 30 days and the former Raley’s will be converted to…
Consumer Group to Protest at 300 Starbucks
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has announced that it will distribute leaflets and protest at a Starbucks intending to “call attention to Starbucks’ use of GE ingredients in their food…
What’s for Dinner? Cloned Meat
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently issued a report that supported using cloned adult animals as a regular element of the nation’s agricultural production process. Will consumers accept milk…
Are Retail Sales Up or Down?
The U.S. Commerce Department reported on Friday that retail sales increased 0.8 percent last month after consecutive month decreases in June and July. Many of the major retail chains,…
Will the ‘Morning-After’ Pill Make the Rx to OTC Switch?
An article in The New England Journal of Medicine is calling for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the so-called ‘Morning-After’ pill for over-the-counter distribution. Would the…
A-B Goes National with Low-Carb Brew
Anheuser-Busch plans a national rollout of Michelob Ultra, “the first major beer to claim that it is low in carbohydrates,” supported by consumer print, radio and outdoor ads. How…
Research Shows There’s No Loyalty for Loyalty Programs
According to a new research study done in the UK, loyalty cards do not loyal customers make. Do loyalty cards help retailers acquire and keep customers?
Ahold Acquires Another Foodservice Distributor
U.S. Foodservice, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ahold, announced that is is acquiring Lady Baltimore Foods, a foodservice distributor based in Kansas City, KS. What are the pros and cons of…
A Manual for Getting Things Done
Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan is “a hard-nosed, hard-edged and hard-boiled guide to the practicalities of leadership in a global competitive economy.”…
Fed Member Thinks CEOs Are Overpaid
William McDonough, president, New York Federal Reserve, has called on corporate executives to take voluntary cuts in pay to benefit shareholders and strengthen the United States’ economy. Is top…
Consumers Still Spending, Only Differently
A recently published Information Resources, Inc. study found that purchasing of consumer goods remains relatively strong, although shopping behavior is being influenced by economic and national security concerns. Will…
September 11th Changes CEO’s Personal and Professional Lives
Top executives of American companies say that the terrorist attacks of last September 11th have affected their views on business and life. How have our personal lives and work been…
HQ Executives Work in Stores
Tesco, the British retailing giant, has sent hundreds of managers from its headquarters to work in company stores in an effort to become more familiar with their own business. Do…
Poll: Opinions Vary on Doing Business on September 11th
Fifty-one percent said retailers should conduct business as usual tomorrow on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to a chainstoreage.com poll. How should we conduct business (or…
